TALLINN - Estonia's Integration Fund has started its new program which aims to help the employees at public safety institutions, as well as employees in educational, management and the healthcare sectors who already have a basic knowledge of the Estonian language, but need to improve their language skills.
"We understand that people who are experts in their field, but with a poor knowledge of the Estonian language, can face obstacles in their career in achieving success," said the head of the Language Teaching Development program Eduard Odinets.
According to Tea Kotkas, head of the Estonian teaching program, the courses are meant for those who are not native speakers. Kotkas added that "It was surprising that even native speakers showed interest in the courses."
The courses, which last from 60-120 hours, will start in January and end by November 30, 2010. The participants will be tested at the beginning and again at the end of the course. "It is quite important that the participants are motivated for studying," said Kotkas.
However, Integration Fund representatives noted that those who have Estonian citizenship and have passed the Estonian language qualification, but who do not use the language actively, also have the possibility to take part in the study program. "We wish that the Russian-speaking citizens, after passing the Estonian language exams for getting the citizenship, would not forget the Estonian language and will use it actively in their every day life," stressed Odinets.
According to Odinets, the language program budget is 64.1 million kroons (4.1 million euros).
During the 2009-2010 academic year the Integration Foundation will be working with a range of higher education institutions to provide additional courses in the Estonian as a second language for Russian-speaking students in Estonia, and for those who obtained their secondary education in the country.
Courses will be launched for students from Tallinn University, Tallinn Health Care College, Narva College of the University of Tartu, and the Estonian University of Life Sciences, in September. Further courses will then begin in October for students from the University of Tartu, Tartu Health Care College, the Estonian Maritime Academy and the Institute of Humanities and Social Sciences. Additional study materials for Estonian as a second language will also be developed as part of the process.
The Integration Foundation will once again be inviting institutions of higher education to make proposals in September in terms of organizing additional language courses. The additional courses in Estonian as second language for students from higher education institutions are being organized as part of the "Language Studies Development 2007-2010" program, financed from the European Social Fund.
